Thursday, January 31, 2008

CLOUDY THIS AFTERNOON AND VERY LIGHT SNOW.

THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO HIRE SOMEONE TO STUDY THE COST OF UPDATING THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM IN ALL BUILDINGS.

THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS ANNOUNCED ITS 2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THEY ARE: TOM BREUCH, LENKE CARSON, DIANA LARSON,
MARILYN OSTERHAUS, MONA REICHLING, AND ASHER SCHROEDER, ALL OF MAQUOKETA AND DICK KUNAU OF PRESTON. TRUSTEES INCLUDE ELAINE EDWARDS REPRESENTING THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK AND TIM BREITFELDER REPRESENTING U.S. BANK. OFFICERS ARE: TOM BREUCH, PRESIDENT....LENKE CARSON, VICE-PRESIDENT....MONA REICHLING, TREASURER AND DIANA LARSON,
SECRETARY.

ANAMOSA HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A $12.8 MILLION DOLLAR NEW HOSPITAL,
TO BE LOCATED AT HIGHWAY 64 AND 151 IN ANAMOSA. PLANS CALL FOR A NEW 46,851 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY. THE CURRENT HOSPITAL, WHICH SERVES 3,500 PATIENTS MONTHLY, IS OUTDATED AND LANDLOCKED.

SHORT REPORT TODAY, MORE TOMORROW. CHECK THE NEW PHOTOS BELOW.
THANKS.

DENNIS VOY
DR. DON SCHWENKER, MAQUOKETA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT,
CONDUCTING THE CHAMBER BREAKFAST MEETING THIS PAST TUESDAY MORNING AT THE DECKER HOTEL. HE IS NOW IN HIS SECOND YEAR AS PRESIDENT. BORN AND RAISED IN MAQUOKETA, HIS OFFICE, TIMBER CITY CHIROPRACTIC, IS LOCATED ON WEST PLATT STREET. TO THE RIGHT IN THE PHOTO IS STACY DRISCOLL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHAMBER. CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

SUNNY AND COLD TODAY....HIGH ABOUT 5 ABOVE. WARMER WEATHER COMING FOR THE WEEKEND.

A WELL KNOWN SENIOR CITIZEN DIED THIS MORNING.....J. KEITH FRANCOIS OF MAQUOKETA. HIS FULL OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT www.carsonandson.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY TO BOB OSTERHAUS....LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND NOW AN OBAMA
SUPPORTER.

AT ROTARY TODAY, WE HEARD ABOUT "UP WITH PEOPLE" COMING TO MAQUOKETA.
THEY WILL BE HEAR STARTING FEBRUARY 14TH FOR FOUR NIGHTS. AROUND 100.
THEY STILL NEED HOMES FOR THEM AND ANYONE INTERESTED IN HOSTING
ONE OR TWO, SHOULD CALL THE CHAMBER OFFICE.

CHECK THE PHOTOS BELOW.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY
PAUL HAHLE, RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR 2007 AT THE MAQUOKETA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BREAKFAST "ANNUAL MEETING" TUESDAY MORNING AT THE DECKER HOTEL. PAUL IS A LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BUSINESS
MAN, COMING TO TOWN ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO TO OWN AND OPERATE PRO TV AND APPLIANCE STORE ON THE CORNER OF WEST PLATT STREET, A BLOCK FROM MAIN. THE BUILDING NO LONGER THERE. NOW HE OWNS THE OLD LUMBER YARD ON EAST PLATT STREET, IN THE FORMER GREEN BAY LUMBER COMPANY BUILDING BUILT IN 1922. HE JUST COMPLETED A FOUR-YEAR TERM ON THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 31ST. AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, HE PROVIDED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW YMCA BUILDING AND THE AIRPORT'S REVITALIZATION PROJECT. I RECALL WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH PAUL ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. DOWNTOWN BUSINESMEN DECIDED THEY WANTED A MUSIC SYSTEM FOR DOWNTOWN, TO PLAY MUSIC FOR SHOPPERS. MATT OSTERHAUS AND I AND A COMMITTEE WE FORMED, RAISED MONEY FOR THE PROJECT AND WE WENT TO PAUL AND WE MAPPED OUT WHERE TO PUT ALL THE SPEAKERS. HE ORDERED AND INSTALLED THEM AT HIS COST. WE STILL USE THOSE SAME SPEAKERS TODAY. THE AMPLIFIER AND TAPE PLAYER IS IN THE KMAQ GARAGE AND WE TURN IT ON WEEKLY AND FOR SPEICAL OCCASIONS. I WAS AT THE MEETING TUESDAY AND JOKED THAT PAUL GAVE US A LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON THOSE SPEAKERS AND NOW, AFTER THE DOWNTOWN FIRE, TWO SPEAKERS DON'T WORK AND HE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. CONGRATULATIONS PAUL ON YOUR AWARD THIS WEEK. WELL DESERVED!
DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

40 AT 6 THIS MORNING. 0 NOW AT 5:20 P.M. 6 BELOW TONIGHT WITH WINDS GIVING A WIND CHILL ABOUT 35 BELOW TONIGHT. JUST ABOUT EVERY EVENT IN THE KMAQ AREA CANCELLED TONIGHT. COLD BUT BETTER TOMORROW.

A MAQUOKETA COUPLE IS IN JAIL AFTER MAQUOKETA POLIC OFFICERS FOUND 202 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA AT THEIR HOME AT 209 WEST GROVE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. CHARGED ... 40 YEAR OLD CHRISTINA EDWARDS AND 37 YEAR OLD DWAYNE EDWARDS.

NEW CALENDAR FOR THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR IN MAQUOKETA WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT. SCHOOL WILL START AUGUST 18TH, A MONDAY, AND THE FIRST SEMESTER WILL END DECEMBER 19TH. THEN THE TWO WEEK CHRISTMAS VACATION. THREE DAYS OF EASTER VACATION AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
WILL BE MAY 22ND 2009. THE REASON FOR THE EARLIER DATES IS THAT THE OLD CALENDAR MADE IT HARD FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE CHRISTMAS VACATION AND THEN COME BACK FOR SEMESTER TESTS.

THE MAQUOKETA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BREAKFAST WAS HELD
THIS MORNING AT THE DECKER HOTEL. THE MEETING WAS CONDUCTED BY PRESIDENT DON SCHWENKER. HE JUST FINISHED HIS TERM AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD, WILL BE PRESIDENT FOR A 2ND YEAR. AMY MITCHELL, FINISHING HER TERM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WAS PRESENTED WITH A PLAQUE.
SCHWENKER PRESENTED THE ANNUAL PRESIDENT'S AWARD TO PAUL HAHLE, OWNER OF THE OLD LUMBER YARD AND LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BUSINESS OWNER AND PAST MEMBER OF THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL. STACY DRISCOLL, THE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GAVE HER ANNUAL AWARD TO ERIN REDDEL, WHO WAS THE INTERN AT THE CHAMBER THIS PAST YEAR AND WAS THE LEAD PERSON IN DEVELOPING A NEW WEB SITE THAT SERVES BOTH THE CHAMBER AND THE CITY OF MAQUOKETA.

LORI BECKER-DUNNE, 43, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED MONDAY AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS. VISITATION WILL BE SATURDAY FROM 10:30 A.M. UNTIL SERVICE TIME AT 1 P.M. AT THE RUNGE MORTUARY IN DAVENPORT.
SHE WORKED AS A SEWER AT PACIFIC COAST FEATHER IN MAQUOKETA AND FOR GENERAC IN MAQUOKETA UNTIL HER PASSING. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE EAGLES CLUB. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, MARK, AND TWO DAUGHTERS AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, HER MOTHER, AND A BROTHER.

STAY WARM.

DENNIS VOY
BIG OMELET BREAKFAST SUNDAY MORNING IN MAQUOKETA. READ MORE ABOUT IT UNDER THE PHOTO BELOW. HERE, FIXIN' A DELICIOUS OMELET, FLORIAN
STEFFAN OF MAQUOKETA AND MAQUOKETA STATE BANK. AT HIS LEFT, JACK WILLEY OF JACK AND ASSOCIATES BEAUTY SALON IN MAQUOKETA AND A LONGTIME JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISOR USES HIS TOUCH TO COMPLETE ANOTHER OMELET. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY
THE MAQUOKETA COUNCIL 8269 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND S.H.A.F.F.
HELD A BIG HAM AND CHEESE OMELET BREAKFAST LAST SUNDAY IN THE SACRED HEART CAFETERIA IN MAQUOKETA. LOTS OF PEOPLE! GOOD OMELETS. AND I ENJOYED THE SWEET ROLL TOO. SHOWN HERE, IN THE BACKGROUND, ST. REP. TOM SCHUELLER MAKING AN OMELET AND UPFRONT IN PHOTO, THE BIG GUY, JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE FLYNN FINISHING ANOTHER OMELET. I DON'T KNOW WHO THE MIDDLE WORKER IS OR WHO THE YOUNG LADY TO THE LEFT IN PICTURE IS. SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND..THERE WAS ANOTHER POPULAR BREAKFAST..A WAFFLE BREAKFAST SUNDAY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, IN THE NEW BIG CAFETERIA, PUT ON BY THE MAQUOKETA ATHLETIC BOOSTER'S CLUB. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE KMAQ AREA SUNDAY HAD WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE EVERY MORNING....A GOOD BREAKFAST. YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA.
DENNIS VOY
WE GOT UP TO 43 YESTERDAY. LOTS OF SNOW MELTED. IT WAS WARM LAST NIGHT, 40 THE OVERNIGHT LOW. BUT, NOW A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, WITH VERY COLD WEATHER MOVING IN THIS AFTERNOON, ALONG WITH SNOW AND HIGH WINDS. THE SAME FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, WITH A COUPLE MORE INCHES. ALREADY, NOW AT 9 THIS MORNIG, THE PHONES ARE RINGING HERE AT KMAQ WITH REQUESTS FOR US TO ANNOUNCE
EARLY OUTS OR CANCELLATIONS. THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOLS WILL DISMISS AT 1 THIS AFTERNOON. I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BREAKFAST AT THE DECKER HOTEL ACROSS THE STREET. GOOD BREAKFAST AND MEETING AFTER. I'LL HAVE SOME PICTURES TAKEN THERE LATER TODAY AND SOME PICTURES TAKEN SUNDAY AT THE SACRED HEART OMELET BREAKFAST.
SO,CHECK BACK FOR MORE ON THE DAILY REPORT TODAY. AND THERE WAS A MONDAY REPORT, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ IT, DO SO NEXT.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, January 28, 2008

SUNNY AND IN THE 40'S TODAY. NICE! BUT, IT WON'T BE LASTING LONG.
ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THE MAQUOKETA BOYS LOST TO MARION FRIDAY NIGHT, 69 TO 57. AND SATURDAY NIGHT, THEY DEFEATED DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD AT THE MCHS GYM, 50 TO 44, WITH
MATT BOPES GETTING 16 POINTS. MAQUOKETA IS NOW 5 AND 9 OVERLL AND 3 AND 7 IN LEAGUE PLAY. THEY PLAY AT ANAMOSA TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE GIRLS HOSTED MARION FRIDAY NIGHT AND LOST 49 TO 41. THE GIRLS
ARE 5 AND 12 OVERALL AND 4 AND 7 IN LEAGUE PLAY. THEY WILL HOST ANAMOSA TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE MAQUOKETA WRESTLERS TOOK 5TH PLACE IN THE WAMAC TOURNAMENT SATURDAY AT VINTON. FOUR CARDINALS FINISHED 2ND.

THE 63RD ANNUAL MEN'S CITY BOWLING TOURNAMENT GOT UNDERWAY THIS PAST WEEK. THE SINGLES LEADER AT THIS TIME IS CHAD WEIRUP OF MAQUOKETA, WITH A HANDICAP 777 SCORE. THE DOUBLES LEADERS WITH 1,392 TOTAL, JAKE SCHMIDT AND DEREK SCHMIDT OF MONMOUTH.

DR. BUDDY ATIENZA IS WORKING NOW IN A MOBILE DENTAL OFFICE BEHIND
HIS BUILDING. THE UNIT HAS TWO CHAIRS, COMPARED TO EIGHT THEY ARE USED TOO. THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS WHO NEED IMMEDIATE CARE.
IT WILL BE CLOSE TO A MONTH BEFORE THEY ARE BACK TO NORMAL IN THE NORTH PORTION OF THEIR BUILDING. TODAY, CREWS ARE WORKING TO GET THE ICE OFF THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING, AND THEN A WALL WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO REBUILD THE SOUTH PORTION OF HIS BUILDING.
DR. ATIENZA'S RENTERS OF THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING ARE IN TEMPORARY LOCATIONS. CPA BRIAN AUNAN IS IN THE US BANK BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.
BELTONE HEARING IS STORING EQUIPMENT IN THE FORMER GNOMAD CAFE LOCATION ON NORTH MAIN STREET AND THE AREA SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS HAVING GROUP MEETINGS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH BUT HAS NO OFFICIAL OFFICE.
MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE BURNED OUT BUILDINGS WAS CLOSED THIS AFTERNOON WHILE END LOADERS WERE CLEARING THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE BUILDINGS AND LOOKING FOR WATER SHUT OFFS.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.

BIRTH: GIRL BORN LAST WEDNESDAY TO MINDY STEFFEN AND KYLE MILLER OF MAQUOKETA, BORN AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. GRANDPARENTS ARE TAMMY AND CRAIG BOLLINGER OF MAQUOKETA, AND BEVERLY KOONTZ OF MAQUOKETA.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, January 25, 2008

LIGHT SNOW COMING DOWN THIS AFTERNOON. WEEKEND STILL LOOKING BETTER AND MONDAY IN THE 40'S.

CHECK A COUPLE PHOTOS OF THE FIRE SCENE I TOOK THIS AFTERNOON. REMEMBER, YOU CAN ENLARGE THEM BY CLICKING-ON THE PICTURE.

IN WRESTLING LAST NIGHT, THE MAQUOKETA CARDINALS DEFEATED MARION, THERE, BY ABOUT 10 TEAM POINTS. THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IS TOMORROW AT VINTON.

A BIRTH. JENNIFER AND MICHAEL AMBRUSTER OF MAQUOKETA ARE PARENTS OF A GIRL, BORN TUESDAY MORNING AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.

TIMES ARE TUFF....TWO MORE GASOLENE DRIVE OFFS IN MAQUOKETA YESTERDAY....AT WAGNER'S ON EAST PLATT AND KJ'S ON WEST PLATT.

IRENE ROSE, AGE 94, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT FINLEY IN DUBUQUE.
SHE AND HER LATE HUSBAND OWNED AND OPERATED ROSE FARMER'S SUPPLY IN MAQUOKETA FOR MANY YEARS. HER COMPLETE OBITUARY IS AT www.laheys.com

HOPEFULLY, THIS WEEKEND WILL BE QUIET AND WARMER IN MAQUOKETA.

TAKE CARE UNTIL MY NEXT REPORT MONDAY.

DENNIS VOY
BREITBACH FLOOR COVERING HAS RENTED THE FORMER SPALDING'S FOOTWEAR BUILDING.....ABOUT 1/6 THE SIZE OF THEIR BURNED-DOWN STORE.....AND HOPE TO OPEN AROUND MARCH 1ST OR SOONER. THEY WILL HAVE A BOOTH AT THE KMAQ FARM AND HOME SHOW ON FEBRUARY 7TH AND 8TH, WHERE THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR CUTOMERS AND HOPEFULLY, SELL SOME CARPET.
THIS IS A BACK VEIW OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE FIRE. THE BUILDING TO FAR LEFT WITH THE SLANTED ROOF, IS THE RESTAURANT BUILDING. THEY ARE STILL NOT SURE IT CAN BE SAVED. AND TO THE EXTREME RIGHT, THE DENTAL BUILDING.
THE SOUTH HALF OF IT MUST BE REBUILDT. WILL TAKE UP TO A YEAR. THE NORTH HALF IS THE DENTIST PART AND IT IS CLOSED AND WILL BE FOR QUITE AWHILE. HEARD YESTERDAY, THAT DR. BUDDY ATIENZA MAY USE A MOBIL DENTAL OFFICE WITH TWO CHAIRS. THAT WAS REPORTED ON TV LAST NIGHT.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

3/4 INCH OF SNOW YESTERDAY. OVERNIGHT LOW OF 11-BELOW AND TODAY, SUNNY AND COLD.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS WEIGHING IN ON THE MAJOR DOWNTOWN FIRE IN MAQUOKETA. MAQUOKETA CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER SAID A DNR OFFICIAL TALKED TO HIM TODAY ABOUT ASBESTOS REMOVAL. WAGENER SAID THE DNR WANTS THE CITY AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO HOLD OFF DOING ANY CLEAN-UP UNTIL AN INSPECTION OF THE AREA HAS BEEN MADE.
WAGNER SAID THE CITY WILL COORDINATE A MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THE CLEAN UP. HE SAID THERE IS SOME INTEREST IN HIRING A JOINT ASBESTOS CONSULTANT FOR THE DEMOLITION.
THE CITY ISN'T TAKING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEMOLITION BECAUSE IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. WANGER SAID THE CITY WANTS TO SEE THE RUBBLE REMOVED FROM THE CITY SIDEWALK SO THE CAN GET TO THE CITY WATER SHUT OFFS. WAGNER SAID IT IS LIKELY THE CITY WATER IS STILL RUNNING UNLESS THE PIPES ARE FROZEN. AND AQUILA WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GET INTO THE BACK OF THE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR GAS LINES AND METERS.
THE CITY MANAGER ALSO SAID HE HAS NOT HEARD WHETHER THE PICKLE BARREL RESTAURANT BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND. FIRE CHEIF BECK SAID THEY ARE STILL MONITORING THE FIRE AREA AND HE SAID ANY WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE AREA IS LIKELY STEAM, AND THAT IF THERE IS BLACK SMOKE, THERE'S FIRE.
THE AERIAL MAQUOKETA AERIAL TRUCK WILL GO TO ALEXIS IN ILLINOIS FOR REPAIRS. CHEIF BECK SID THE PUMP WAS BROKEN AND HE ESTIMATES THE REPAIR BILL WILL BE $10,000. THE TRUCK, A 1985 MODEL, WAS PURCHSED BY MAQUOKETA 5 YEARS AGO AND HAS NOT BEEN USED MUCH.
AND....WE LEARNED TODAY THAT BRIAN AUNAN, CPA, WHO HAD A SUITE AT THE
SMILES ON MAIN DENTAL BUILDING, WILL HAVE TEMPORARY OFFICES AT THE U.S. BANK.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN IOWA INCREASED IN DECEMBER TO 4 PERCENT, UP FROM 3.9%......AND FOR JACKSON COUNTY, THE JOBLESS RATE WAS 4 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER AND WENT UP TO 5.5 PERCENT IN DECEMBER.

THE PEACE PIPE PLAYERS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE CAST FOR THEIR UPCOMING NEIL SIMON PLAY, "THE ODD COUPLE". MARTY DAVISON WILL PLAY FELIX AND BRUCE ENGEL WILL BE OSCAR. ALSO IN THE COMEDY WILL BE: JOEL DAVIDSON,
CHRIS RAKER, ED SZABO, TIM TAYLOR, ERICA BARKER, AND CARRIE DAVISON ROUSE.
LORI HOUSTON AND REBECCA KUTSCH WILL BE CO-DIRECTORS. THE PLAY WILL BE PUT ON AT THE OHNWARD CENTER FEBRUARY 29TH AND MARCH 1ST AND 2ND.
TICKETS, AT $12, WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ADVANCE AT OSTERHAUS PHARMACY.'

AND SO LONG UNTIL NEXT TIME.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

IT JUST KEEPS SNOWING. LIGHT SNOW ALL DAY LONG.
DOWN TO 15 BELOW TONIGHT!

JAKE (BICKFORD) AND I JUST HAD COFFEE AT MCDONALDS....NOT EASY GETTING OUT THERE AND BACK. JAKE GOT A NEW KNEE A WEEK AGO AND IT WENT WELL.
NEXT, THE OTHER KNEE IN TWO WEEKS. THEN HE'LL BE SET FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF BOWLING, GOLFING AND WALKING UP AND DOWN THAT CLOTHING STORE AISLE.

HEARD THIS AFTERNOON FROM JAKE THAT BREITBACH FLOOR COVERING HAS RENTED THE STORE JUST SOUTH OF HIS STORE(BILL MOLER'S CLOTHING) , FOR A TEMPORARY LOCATION. IT FOR MANY YEARS WAS THE HOME OF SPALDING'S FOOTWEAR. STORE HAS A GOOD EAST-TO-USE BACK ENTRANCE. BREITBACH'S ALSO HAVE A WAREHOUSE BUILDING ON EAST QUARRY STREET.

THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS STARTED TWO FUND DRIVES.
ONE TO HELP THE DISPLACED BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE OTHER FOR FIREMEN, INCLUDING AN APPRECIATION DINNER FOR FIREMEN THAT WORKED AT THE FIRE.
IT WILL BE IN LATE FEBRUARY AT A PLACE TO BE ANNOUNCED. AN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE LOCAL BANKS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE, MAKE YOUR CHECK OUT TO THE MAQUOKETA BETTERMENT CORPORATION AND NOTE ON THE CHECK WHICH ACCOUNT YOU WISH TO GIVE TO. THEN MAIL IT TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE AT 117 SOUTH MAIN STREET, MAQUOKETA, IOWA 52060. ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN EMAIL THE CHAMBER AT maqchamber@qwest.net CHERYL OR TRACY WILL GET BACK TO YOU.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD HAS MADE A COUNTER OFFER TO THE MEA REQUEST FOR SALARY INCREASES. THE MEA ASKED FOR A 5.95 PERCENT SALARY INCREASE ON THE BASE PAY OF A FIRST YEAR TEACHER, WHICH WOULD BRING IT UP TO $26,159. NOW IT IS $24,690. THE SCHOOL BOARD COUNTERED WITH A $100 INCREASE TO $24,790. ALL OTHER SALARIES ARE FIGURED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE BASE TEACHER SALARY. THE BOARD IS ALSO PROPOSING SOME MAJOR CHANGES IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN. THEY PROPOSE TO PROVIDE A FULLY PAID SINGLE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN WITH A $500 DEDUCTABLE AND PAY A MAXIMUM OF $900 PER MONTH TOWARD THE FAMILY POLICY. THE FAMILY POLICY WOULD HAVE A $1,000 DEDUCTABLE. ALSO, THE BOARD WOULD ONLY PROVIDE SINGLE COVERAGE FOR ANY FULLTIME HIRES AFTER JULY 1, 2008.
THE MEA HAD ASKED FOR NO CHANGES IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY.

THE MAQUOKETA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES....TO A GAS SMELL AT 905 KATHEY DRIVE LAST NIGHT AND TO A GAS SMELL IN THE ALLEY BEHIND TANDEM TIRE. IN CASES LIKE THIS, THE GAS COMPANY IS CALLED AND THE FIRE DEPARMENT STAYS UNTIL THE SOURCE OF ODOR HAS BEEN DETERMINED AND FIREMEN ARE NOT NEEDED.

A BLOOD DRIVE YESTERDAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND 94 UNITS COLLECTED DURING THE 5-HOUR PERIOD.

THE MAQUOKETA BOYS LOST THEIR GAME AGAINST WEST DELAWARE HERE LAST NIGHT, BY TWO POINTS AND THE MAQUOEKETA GIRLS BROKE A 4-GAME LOOSING STREAK BY BEATING WEST DELAWARE AT MANCHESTER LAST NIGHT.'

ITS 4 O'CLOCK AND IT HAS STOPPED SNOWING.

A REAL SHAME THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE YEAR WITHOUT THE FOUR SEASONS.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

FIVE INCHES OF SNOW LATE YESTERDAY AND OVERNIGHT IN MAQUOKETA. EIGHT INCHES SO FAR IN JANUARY. SCHOOL DELAYED 2 HOURS THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND BAD ROADS. THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL BREAKFAST MEETING POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY MORNING.
TODAY'S HIGH, 12. WARMER WEATHER....IN UPPER 20'S....SHOULD COME OUR WAY OVER THE WEEKEND.

NOTHING NEW ON THE FIRE.

HOSPICE OF JACKSON COUNTY NOW HAS LAND FOR ITS NEW FACILITY. THE SUPERVISORS TODAY SOLD THEM BICENTENNIAL PARK (7 ACRES) FOR THE ASKING PRICE OF $77,500. THE LAND, IS ACROSS THE STREET, NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL AND RUNS ALONG THE MAQUOKETA RIVER. HOSPICE HAS PROPOSED TO KEEP PART OF THE PARK AS A MEMORIAL WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC
USE. HOSPICE OFFICIALS PLAN TO BUILD A $1.4 MILLION DOLLAR 7 BED FACILITY, WITH OFFICES.

INTERESTING WATER FACTS ABOUT THE FIRE, AS REPORTED AT LAST NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING BY TODD ALLEN OF THE ALLIANT COMPANY THAT RUNS THE WATER STYSTEM FOR THE CITY. ALLEN SAID THE DAILY AVERAGE USE OF WATER IS 745,475 GALLONS. SATURDAY, THE FIRST DAY OF FIRE, THE PLANT FLOW WAS 1.3 MILLION GALLONS AND SUNDAY, 1.4 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. AT ONE POINT, THE CITY'S WATER TOWER DROPPEDONE-HALF FOOT IN FIVE MINUTES AND THE LEVELS IN THE TWO TOWERS DROPPED MORE THAN 15 FEET. HE SAID IF THE WATER HAD CONTINUED TO DROP IN THE TOWERS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DRAINED AND COULD HAVE COLLAPSED. THE WEST TOWER HAS A CAPACITY OF 500,000 GALLONS AND THE EAST TOWER, 250,000. THE WATER DEPARTMENT FOUND IT NECESSARY DURING THE FIRE TO ASK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE ITS DRAW ON THE SYSTEM. THAT IS WHEN THE PLAN USED IN RURAL FIRES WAS IMPLEMENTED AND TANKER TRUCKS HAULED WATER FROM THE MAQUOKETA RIVER. ALLEN SAID THE WATER PLANT IS DESIGNED TO PUMP 1,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE, BUT IT RAMPED UP TO 1,800 GALLONS PER MINUTE.

PATRICIA WALLACE, 72, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDY. HER COMPLETE OBITUARY IS AT www.laheys.com.

JOE SHOLLENBERGER,36, OF CASPER, WYOMING AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA, DIED JANUARY 12TH IN CASPER. HE WAS BORN IN CLINTON TO ROBERT SHOLLENBERGER AND LYNN HANSEN. HE IS SURVIVED BY A SON, ISAAC BIEHL OF MAQUOKETA AND A DAUGHTER IN KANSAS. ALSO HIS MOTHER AND STEPFATHER.

THE MAQUOKETA CARDINALS WRESTLERS WON ONE MEET LAST NIGHT AND LOST ONE.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT. TAKE CARE AND KEEP WARM.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, January 21, 2008

IT IS NOW NEARLY 4 O'CLOCK AND THE SNOW IS LETTING UP. IT IS CLOSE TO
20 DEGREES.

THE BODY OF A BELLEVUE MAN WAS PULLED FROM A LAKE IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI SUNDAY. VIRGIL NEMMERS, AGE 79, WAS A PASSENGER IN A VAN WHICH LOST TRACTION WHILE BACKING INTO A BOAT RAMP SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WENT INTO THE WATER OF LAKE TANNECOMO IN BRANSON AND NEMMERS APPARENTLY DROWNED. SERVICES ARE PENDING IN BELLEVUE.

THE J AND K KENNELS AT RURAL BELLEVUE HAD A FIRE AROUND 9:30 YESTERDAY MORNING. ABOUT $25,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THERE WERE 80 GREYHOUND DOGS INSIDE ADN ALL GOT OUT WITHOUT INJURY.

MAQUOKETA FIREMEN HAD A CAR FIRE TO EXTINGUISH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
PEGGY HANSEN'S CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON WEST ANGUS AND FIREMEN PUT OUT THE FIRE IN 30 MINUTES.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

SUSAN EHLERS OF MAQUOKETA HAD A GIRL JANUARY 14TH AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. GRANDPARENTS ARE PATTY AND DENNIS JOHNSON OF MAQUOKETA.

PATRICIA WALLACE, 72, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED TODAY AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.
SERVICES PENDING AT LAHEY FUNERAL HOME IN MAQUOKETA.

THE MAQUOKETA BOYS DEFEATED BURLINGTON NOTRE DAME IN A NON-CONFERENCE GAME SATURDAY NIGHT THERE, 65 TO 58. DANIEL HOLMS HAD 30 POINTS FOR MAQUOKETA. LAST FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAME WAS POSTPONED AGANST VINTON SHELLSBURG. THE CARDS ARE NOW 4 AND 7 OVERALL AND HOST WEST DELAWARE TOMORROW NIGHT.

THE MAQUOKETA GIRL'S GAME WITH VINTON FRIDAY NIGHT WAS ALSO POSTPONED AND SATURDAY THEY TRAVELED TO DUBUQUE WAHLERT AND LOST, 53 TO 28, A NON-CONFERENCE GAME. THEY ARE NOW 4 AND 11 OVERALL. THEY PLAY AT MANCHESTER TOMORROW NIGHT.

THE MAQUOKETA WRESTLING TEAM SATURDAY AT THE MONTICELLO DUALS, DEFEATED CENTRAL CITY, WEST BRANCH, MONTICELLO AND OELWEIN. THEIR DUAL MEET RECORD IS NOW 11 AND 6. THE WRESTLERS ARE AT HOME TONIGHT, A MAKE-UP MEET AGAINST ANAMOSA AND WESTERN DUBUQUE.

ROCKY LAMAR, MCHS GRAD, NOW HEAD COACH AT MID-AMERICA NAZERENE UNIVERSITY IN KANSAS, EARLIER THIS SEASON WON HIS 500TH GAME, ALL AT THAT COLLEGE AND SATURDAY NIGHT, AT A HOME GAME, HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT ANNOUNED THAT IN ADDITION TO RETIRING HIS JERSY, THE BASKETBALL FLOOR AT THE UNIVERSITY WILL BE NAMED "ROCKY LAMAR COURT". THE PIONEERS HE COACHES THEN WON THE GAME SATURDAY NIGHT, FOR THEIR 17TH WIN OF THE SEASON AGAINST ONLY 2 LOSSES. MCHS GRAD ADAM HEPKER LED IN SCORING WITH 21 POINTS.

I DID AN EARLIER MONDAY DAILY REPORT TODAY, STRICTLY ABOUT THE WEEKEND FIRE. IT IS BELOW THIS ONE....ALSO DID REPORTS YESTERDAY.....SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THOSE IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
IT IS SNOWING IN MAQUOKETA. STARTED LAST NIGHT AND LIGHT SNOW ALL
DAY SO FAR.

FIRE NOTES:
MAQUOKETA FIREMEN WERE CALLED OUT AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO PUT OUT HOT SPOTS. FIRE CHEIF MARK BECK SAID COAL WAS FOUND IN AN ABANDONED COAL CHUTE AT THE BACK OF THE HALLMARK BUILDING. THAT'S WHERE THE FLARE UPS OCCURRED.
THE FIRM MARSHALL HAS COMPLETED HIS INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS NOT SUSLLPICIOUS. FIRE CHIEF BECK SAID BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, TEH FIRE MARSHALL COULD NOT MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. BECK SAID THEY NEVER WILL. IT WILLBE LEFT UNDETERMINED. THE FIRE STARTED IN AN UPSTAIRS APARTMENT ABOVE JACKSON COUNTY HOME FURNISHINGS. OWNER OF THE BUSINESS AND BUILDING, JENNIFER WESTPHAL SAID THE APARTMENT WAS RENTED TO DEWY DANIELS AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THE OTHER APARTMENT WAS NOT RENTED. I HAVE HEARD THAT DANIELS CAME HOME EARLY IN THE MORNING AND WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR, SMELLED SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWNTOWN TO A BAR AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. CHEIF BECK SAID A CORN FURNACE LOCATED IN THE FURNITURE STORE WAS NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE FIRE. THE FURNACE IS LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STORE AND IN THE BACK. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT OF THE UPPER FLOOR APARTMENT. IT WAS INSTALLED 3 YEARS AGO.
BOTH WESTPHAL AND KAREN BREITBACH OF THE FLOOR COVERING STORE, SAID YESTERDAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THEIR BUSINESSES.
BOTH SAID THEY WERE IN SHOCK. WESTPHAL SAID SHE'S GOT FURNURE COMING IN THIS WEEK FOR CUSTOMERS AND KEN MOORE OFFERED HER A BUILDING TO ALLOW THEM TO RECEIVE FURNITURE. SHE SAID THAT DECISION ON WHAT TO DO WITH INCOMING FURNITURE WILL BE MADE THIS WEEK. SUE WILKE, OWNER OF THE HALLMARK STORE SATURDAY NIGHT SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD DO ABOUT HER BUSINESS. THE DENTAL OFFICE OF DR. ATIENZA MAY BE ABLE TO OPEN IN A WEEK OR SO. FIRE CHIEF BECK SAID THAT AFTER A TOUR OF THE PICKLE BARREL RESTAURANT SUNDAY,THEY FOUND IT HAD WATER AND SMOKE DAMAGE, BUT NO FIRE DAMAGE. CHAD ELLIS AND BEN HANTEN, OWNERS OF THE BUSINESS THAT HAD NOT YET OPENED, SAID THEY GOT SOME THINGS OUT. BOTH OWNERS SAID THEY WILL OPEN THE SANDWICH RESTAURANT IF THE BUILDING IS FOUND TO BE STRUCTURALLY SAFE.
MAQUOKETA FIREMEN SPEND NEARLY 30 HOURS PUTTING THE FIRE OUT, ASSISTED BY FIREMEN FROM NEALY 20 OTHER DEPARTMENTS. ON SUNDAY, LOCAL FIREMEN WERE CLEANING UP EQUIPMENT. ASSISTANT FIRE CHEIF AL MUHLHAUSEN SAID THAT INNOVATIVE PROTEINS, THE LAND O' LAKES PLANT IN THE MAQUOKETA INDUSTRIAL PARK OFFERED THEIR HEATED GARAGES AND FIREMEN USED THOSE
GARAGES TO WARM UP TRUCKS AND GET THEM CLEANED UP. WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FIRE STATION, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM TO DO THINGS NOW. THE FLOOR OF THE NEW FIRE STATION WAS USED TO DRY OUT AIR PACKS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.
THE GATEWAY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ASSISTED OVER THE WEEKEND. IN A NEWS RELEASE, THEY SAID THEY PROVED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO 17 PEOPLE. THERE WAS ONE TENANT OF A BURNING BUILDING APARTMENT, DEWY DANIELS AND THE OTHERS THEY HELPED WERE THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THEIR POWER WAS OUT. RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS HELPED FAMILIES FIND A PLACE TO STAY ALONG WITH PROVIDING FOOD AND CLOTHING.
I WILL HAVE OTHER LOCAL NEWS IN A SEPARATE REPORT HERE....LATER TODAY.
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.
DENNIS VOY

Sunday, January 20, 2008




GOOD MORNING. IT IS SUNDAY MORNING AND THE SUN IS SHINING. IT WAS NOT AS COLD LAST NIGHT AS PREDICTED...ABOUT 8 BELOW AND NOW WITH THE SUN SHINING, WE ARE MOVING UP WELL ABOVE ZERO. IT IS 11:15 A.M AND I JUST VISITED DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. FIREMEN AND OTHERS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE NITE. MAIN STREET WAS CLEARED OF ICE WITH AN END LOADER. MANY MORE WEAK WALLS WERE TOPPLED DOWN AND THERE NOW IS AN OPEN SPACE WHERE THE BUILDINGS WERE.
I HAVE PUT UP HERE, 3 PHOTOS. ONE SHOWS THE CORNER BUILDING STILL STANDING.
IT'S FUTURE I DO NOT KNOW. IT IS BADLY DAMAGED. IF IT WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN, PROBABLY EQUIPMENT LAST NIGHT WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO DO IT. IF ONE COULD REBUILD IT....IT WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK STRANGE ALL ALONE ON THAT CORNER.
ANOTHER PHOTO IS OF THE CENTER PORTION OF THE BURNED OUT AREA, WHERE THE HALLMARK STORE , FLOOR COVERING STORE AND FURNITURE STORE STOOD. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT. THE NORTH WALL OF HALLMARK IS A COMMON WALL WITH THE DENTAL BUILDING. THAT WALL WILL STAY.
AND THE OTHER PHOTO IS OF THE DENTAL BUILDING. I VISITED WITH BUDDY AND MICHELLE ATIENZA AND BUDDY TOOK ME THROUGH THE BUILDING. THE NORTH HALF WHERE BUDDY'S DENTAL OFFICES ARE LOCATED IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. THERE IS A FURNACE FOR THAT HALF. IT WAS 50 DEGREES IN THERE NOW. A PLUMBER WILL BE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH FROZEN PIPES AND GET HE WATER RUNNING. ELECTRICITY WILL BE HOOKED UP AND CLEANING WILL BE DONE, BUT IT SUFFERED LITTLE WATER
DAMAGE. THERE IS LITTLE SMOKE ODOR. BUDDY HOPES DURING THE WEEK AHEAD,
IT CAN BE MADE READY TO OPEN. HE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF EMERGENCIES.
SO, AT THIS TIME, IT LOOKS LIKE THE DENTAL OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED PLUS OR MINUS A WEEK. THE SOUTH HALF OF THE BUILDING HAS HAD SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE, BUT CAN BE REPAIRED. BRIAN AUNUN CPA OFFICE MAY HAVE TO WORK OUT OF SOME BACK ROOM SPACE FOR AWHILE. THE HEARING AID BUSINESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE OFFICE MAY ALSO BE RELOCATED TO A BACK ROOM OR TWO WHILE THE ROOF AND OTHER REPAIRS ARE MADE. THERE IS ONE LARGE HOLE IN THE ROOF ON THAT SOUTH HALF OF BUILDING. NONE OF THE THREE BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS LOST EQUIPMENT.
LOTS OF VISITORS DOWNTOWN. YOU CAN WALK DOWN MAIN STREET AND TAKE PICTURES. THE ELECTRICITY IS ON AT THE VOY THEATRE AND THE HURST HOTEL APARTMENTS. THE THEATRE WILL BE OPEN THIS AFTERNOON FOR 2 MOVIES, AT 2 P.M AND AT 7 P.M. THE "27 DRESSES" MOVIE IN THE VOY 2 WILL NOT BE SHOWN TODAY AS THAT AUDITORIUM HAS NOT YET WARMED UP TO A SATISFACTORY TEMPERATURE.
FIREMEN ARE WORKING, CLEANING UP EQUIPMENT AT THE FIRE STATION. EVEN A PORTION OF THE NEW STATION IS BEING USED. SOME FIREMEN AND A COUPLE TRUCKS ARE STILL DOWN BY THE BURNED OUT BUILDINGS. THE FIRE MARSHALL'S MOBILE VAN IS STILL HERE. IT WILL DEFINITELY BE "TALK ABOUT THE FIRE" DAY IN MAQUOKETA.
KEEP CHECKING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. AND FOR MORE PHOTOS. THANKS FOR THE MANY COMMENTS WE HAVE RECEIVED ON OUR COVERAGE HERE.
HAVE A GOOD SUNDAY....AND GO PACKERS.
DENNIS VOY

Saturday, January 19, 2008

THE SUN IS SHINNING IN MAQUOKETA. BUT IT IS STILL COLD...NOT MUCH ABOVE ZERO.
THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE FIRE AT 1 P.M. AT THE MAQUOKETA CITY HALL. I PUT IT ON KMAQ AM AND FM AND IT WAS AIRED "LIVE" ALSO ON THE ACCESS CHANNEL. IT LASTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES. SEVERAL TV STATIONS WERE THERE AND MAYOR MESSERLI ANSWERED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO ON HAND TO ANSWER SOME, THE CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER, DOUG OWEN, MANAGER OF THE MAQUOKETA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER.. POLICE CHIEF KORANDA AND OTHERS.
THE FIRE MARSHALL STILL HAS NOT DETERMINED WHAT STARTED THE FIRE AND IT IS ALSO NOT CERTAIN IN WHICH BUILDING IT STARTED, BUT EITHER THE FURNITURE STORE OR THE FLOOR COVERING STORE. THE FIRE IS STILL SMOLDERING AND THEY CONTINUE TO SPRAY WATER ON THE BUILDINGS WITH THE BIG AERIAL LADDER TRUCKS. MESSERLI SAID THEY WILL HAVE SOMEONE ON THE SCENE UNTIL DARK OR LONGER. OWEN SAID THEY WOULD START TO GET POWER LINES TO THOSE BUILDINGS WITHOUT ELECTRICITY BY LATE AFTERNOON. ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE MANY APARTMENTS AT THE RECENTLY RESTORED HURST HOTEL AND NOW IN TEPORARY HOUSING UNTIL THE ELECTRICITY IS RESTORED.
THE THEATRE IS STILL WITHOUT POWER. SOME FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE LEFT FOR HOME, BUT OTHERS ARE STILL HAULING WATER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL MEETING AND SOCIAL AT BROCK'S HALL SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. ICE IS STILL EVERYWHERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AS YOU WILL SEE ON THE PHOTOS YOU CAN CLICK TO HERE ON OUR WEB SITE.
SO, IN SUMMARY...THE WORST IF OVER...BUT THE FIREMEN ARE STILL AT IT.
STILL NO WORD ON HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE INSIDE OF THE DENTAL BUILDING. THE DAMAGE WILL BE IN THE MILLIONS FOR SURE.
IF I HEAR ANYTHING NEW AND INTERESTING, I'LL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER REPORT LATER TODAY.
KEEP WARM.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL GUEST BOOK ENTRIES, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
MIGHT ALSI BE SOME THINGS ALSO UP ON www.maquoketa.com
REMEMBER...JUST CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.
DENNIS VOY
IT IS NOW 11:30 A.M.
KMAQ WENT ON-THE-AIR SHORTLY AFTER 9:30 A.M. AFTER POWER WAS RESTORED ON OUR SIDE OF THE BLOCK.
THE VOY THEATRE IS STILL WITHOUT POWER AND THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED DOWN TO THE 40'S. IT IS STIL BELOW ZERO IN MAQUOKETA, WITH A NORTH WIND ABOUT 8-10 MILES PER HOUR. SO, THE THEATRE WILL NOT BE OPEN THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS EVENING. HOPEFULLY, ELECTRICITY WILL BE BACK ON TODAY SOMETIME AND THE THEATRE WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
16 FIRE DEPARTMENS ARE ON THE SCENE AND AROUND 50 FIRE VEHICLES ARE EVERYWHERE. MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE DOWNTOWN CORE OF THE CITY. THE FAREWAY STORE, OSTERHAUS PHARMACY, AND SOME RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN. FOR FAREWAY AND OSTERHAUS PHARMACY, PARK AS CLOSE TO STORES AS YOU CAN GET AND WALK IN THE BACK DOOR. CAREFUL OF THE ICE AS THERE IS ICE ALL OVER FROM THE FIRE HOSES.
TWO FIREMEN SLIPPED ON THE ICE AND HAD TO BE TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE FIRE IS NOT OUT, BUT HOPEFULLY IS UNDER CONTROL. THEY ARE STILL SOAKING DOWN THE SMILES ON MAIN DENTAL CLINIC LARGE BUILDING THAT HOUSES FOUR BUSINESSES. BRICKS AND DEBRIS FROM THE HALLMARK STORE FELL ON THE DENTAL BUILDING, CAUSING A 30-FOOT WIDE GAP IN THE ROOF. SHERI MELVOLD JUST CAME IN TO MY OFFICE TO SAY THAT FIREMEN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, WENT INTO THE BUILDING TO TAKE A LOOK, AND FOUND NO FLAMES. BUT, NO WORD YET ON WHAT DAMAGE IT HAS SUFFERED FROM WATER AND SMOKE. THE SUE'S HALLMARK STORE IS BEYOND REPAIR. THE TOP FLOOR IS COMPLETLY GONE. TO THE SOUTH OF IT, BREITBACH'S FLOOR COVERING BUILDING AND THE JACKSON COUNTY HOME FURNISHINGS BUILDING, ARE BOTH EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. AND THE LAST BUILDING TO GO INTO FLAMES IS THE ONE ON THE CORNER THAT WAS TO BE THE NEW PICKLE BARREL SUBS RESTAURANT. SMOKE WAS STILL POURING FROM IT AROUND A HALF-HOUR AGO. THE RED CROSS IS IN TOWN AND THEY INFORMED KMAQ THAT A LOT OF FOOD WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR FIREMEN AND THAT THEY NEED NO MORE. SUE, OWNER OF SUE'S HALLMARK SAID SHE STARTED HER STORE IN THE BUILDING IN 1980, PURCHASED IT IN 1985 AND REMODLED IT IN THE LATE 80'S WHEN MAQUOKETA HAD A MAIN STREET PROGRAM. SHE TOLD KMAQ NEWS THIS MORNING THAT SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE WILL DO WITH THE BUSINESS. THE BUILDING WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MAQUOKETA BUILDINGS TO BE REGISTERED AS A HISTORIC BUILDING. IT IS IRONIC THAT THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST YEAR ESTABLISHED A DOWNTOWN COMMITTEE TO REVITALIZE MAIN STREET. THERE ARE SEVERAL VACANT STOREFRONTS DOWNTOWN AND NOW THIS FIRE WILL ADD TO THE
NEED FOR IDEAS AND ACTION. BUT, REBUILDING TAKES TIME. THE RAILROAD DEPOT FIRE WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THE BURNED-OUT STRUCTURE STILL STANDS ON EAST PLATT STREET. JUST HEARD THAT ANOTHER FIREMAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE SOMETIME THIS AFTERNOON.
DENNIS VOY
KMAQ Radio is now Back  ON-AIR,   tune in for updates on the Downtown Fire.  Let everyone you know so they can tune in for any additional anouncements and info.


Complete Photo Collection on Maquoketa Online Flickr Website
Video soon...  watch for info.
UPDATE: More Photos from Dennis on Flickr Page.
IT IS 8:45 A.M. AND I JUST RETURNED FROM DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. THE FIRE IS NOT YET UNDER CONTROL. ONE OF THE NEW PHOTOS YOU WILL SEE HERE SHOWS THE SMOKE OVER THE PICKLE BARRELL SUB SANDWICH STORE WAS TAKEN JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO ..THE SMOKE BILLOWING FROM ROOF. THE WIND IS STARTING TO BE A CONCERN. IT IS 10 BELOW ZERO. THERE ARE 14 FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN TOWN RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING SOME FROM ILLINOIS. MOST ARE TANKERS HAULING WATER FROM THE MAQUOKETA RIVER, AS WATER IS STARTING TO BE A PROBLEM. THE WATER IS BEING PUT INTO A LARGE INFLATABLE TANK ON MAIN STREET. THE WORD NOW IS THAT THERE IS A 50-50 CHANCE OF SAVING THE NEW DENTAL BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK. THE SUB SANDWICH STORE WILL DEFINITELY BE GONE.
IF ANYONE NEEDS TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT HERE, CALL 563-593-0915 AND IT WILL BE POSTED ON THIS SITE. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE MAQUOKETA
STATE BANK MAIN OFFICE IS CLOSED .. NO ELECTRICITY LIKE KMAQ ..BUT THAT THE
WEST SIDE DRIVE-UP LANES ONLY ARE OPEN...NO WALK-INS THERE, JUST DRIVE-UP
WINDOWS. OSTERHAUS PHARMACY IS OPEN. PEOPLE CITY-WIDE ARE BEING ASKED TO USE WATER SPARINGLY...PASS THE WORD. NO INJURIES AS OF THIS TIME.
CHECK PHOTOS HERE AND ALSO ON THE FLICKER PAGE. I'LL HAVE FURTHER REPORTS
DURING THE DAY, SO CHECK BACK.
DENNIS VOY
UPDATE: More Photos taken by Dennis added to Maquoketa Online Flicker pool Website..



A MAJOR FIRE IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA...MAY BE THE WORST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY, IS BEING FOUGHT RIGHT NOW BY FIREMEN FROM AROUND THE AREA. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 2 THIS MORNING IN EITHER THE BREITBACH FLOOR COVERING STORE OR JACKSON COUNTY HOME FURNISHINGS STORE. THE SUE'S HALLMARK STORE IS GONE.
BREITBACH'S FLOOR COVERING STORE IS GONE. JACKSON COUNTY HOME FURNISHINGS STORE IS GONE. THE ROOF HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED AT THE NEW DENTIST BUILDING, BUT AT THIS TIME, NO FLAMES THERE. I AM NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF
THE NEW SUB SANDWICH STORE WILL BE SAVED. IT WAS ABOUT TO OPEN SOON.
IT IS VERY VERY COLD FOR FIGHTERS...AROUND 5 BELOW OR MORE. THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY CENTER IS BEING USED AS A WARMING PLACE FOR FIRE FIGHTERS FROM MAQUOKETA, BELLEVUE, DELMAR, CHARLOTTE, CLINTON AND OTHERS. ELECTRICITY IS OFF ON THE EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET AND THEREFORE KMAQ IS NOT ON THE AIR YET.
KEEP CHECKING THIS DAILY REPORT FOR FURTHER NEWS.
DENNIS VOY

Friday, January 18, 2008

THREE INCHES OF SNOW YESTERDAY.
COLD TODAY.
COLD WEEKEND COMING UP. 12 BELOW TOMORROW NIGHT.
NO RELIEF IN SITE.

NO ONE WAS INJURED IN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT AROUND 4 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON A HALF MILE WEST OF MAQUOKETA. DRIVERS WERE LYNN TONDERUM, 53, OF MAQUOKETA AND ROBERT ROE, 46, OF ELWOOD. ICE CONDITIONS.

FRANCIS TRUE, 89, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED THIS MORNING. ARRANGEMENTS PENDING AT CARSON'S.

THE "UP WITH PEOPLE" GROUP WILL BE IN MAQUOKETA FROM VALENTINES DAY
UNTIL FEBRUARY 18TH. THEY WILL PERFORM SUNDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 17TH, AT 3 P.M., AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER.

THE MAQUOKETA WRESTLERS HAD AN EASY DUAL MEET VICTORY HERE LAST NIGHT, DEFEATING DAVENPORT WEST.

THE BASKETBALL GAMES AT THE MCHS GYM TONIGHT AGAINST VINTON HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, VINTON SHELLSBURG DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THE LONG TRIP TO MAQUOKETA.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, January 17, 2008

2008 IS A SPECIAL YEAR FOR KMAQ!
WE CELEBRATE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY!
THE CELEBRATION WILL BE ALL YEAR, WITH SPECIAL EVENTS IN AUGUST, ANNIVERSARY MONTH FOR KMAQ.
AND...TO KEEP US ALL AWARE OF THE BIG EVENT....WE WILL BE GIVING AWAY A FREE RADIO EVERY MONTH IN 2008. PLUS 50 OTHER GIFTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SOMEONE WILL WIN THE FIRST RADIO, PICTURED HERE, ON JANUARY 31ST.
JOIN THE KMAQ ANNIVERSARY CLUB NOW BY SENDING YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER TO KMAQ, BOX 940, MAQUOKETA, IA. 52060 OR EMAIL YOUR NAME ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER TO kmaq@kmaq.com OR DROP OFF AT OUR STUDIOS DOWNTOWN YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.
ALONG WITH YOUR NAME, INDICATE ABOUT WHAT YEAR YOU STARTED LISTENING TO KMAQ.
KEEP LISTENING TO KMAQ AND YOU MAY HEAR THAT YOU HAVE WON A KMAQ ANNIVERSARY RADIO OR OTHER GIFT. CLICK-ON THE RADIO ABOVE TO MAKE IT LARGER.
DENNIS VOY

(Below, be sure to read today's Thursday Daily Report (and the Wednesday report which came up late) and note the photo of Sherry Watters with story below it)
Dennis Voy
1/2 INCH OF SNOW OVERNIGHT AND ABOUT 3 MORE THIS MORNING....NOW ENDED. GETTING READY FOR SUB-ZERO TEMPS THIS WEEKEND.

THE MAQUOKETA ATHLETIC BOOSTERS CLUB GAVE A CHECK FOR $27,000 THIS WEEK TO THE DISTRICT, THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THEIR $80,000 PLEDGE FOR A NEW WEIGHT ROOM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD THIS WEEK ACCEPTED THE EARLY RETIREMENT REQUEST FOR STEVE LANSING, A MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 33 YEARS.

"UP WITH PEOPLE" .. COMING TO MAQUOKETA FOR NEARLY A WEEK IN FEBRUARY. THEIR VISIT WILL INCLUDE A CONCERT AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER. GOOGLE "UP WITH PEOPLE" TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS FAMOUS GROUP.

THE DAILY REPORT YESTERDAY WAS NOT PUT UP HERE UNTIL
THIS MORNING, SO SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE READ IT.
AND, BELOW TODAY'S REPORT, A PHOTO AND STORY ABOUT SHERRY WATTERS. REMEMBER...FOR ALL PHOTOS HERE....CLICK ON THEM AND THEY ARE QUICKLY ENLARGED.

WRESTLING TONIGHT ON KMAQ-FM.

SO LONG FOR NOW FROM MAQUOKETA.

DENNIS VOY
FORMERLY FROM MAQUOKETA, MCHS GRAD, SHERRY WATTERS,
OF NEW ORLEANS. DAUGHTER OF LOUIE AND ELAINE WATTERS OF MAQUOKETA! SHOWN HERE AS THE 2008 MARDI GRAS QUEEN. SHE WILL RIDE IN THE MARDI GRAS PARADE ON THE QUEEN FLOAT. A HIGH HONOR! SHE WAS NOMINATED TO BE THE 31ST QUEEN GWENIVERE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT,
WAS CROWNED BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WAS FEATURED AT THE ROYAL BALL ON JANUARY 5TH. SHE IS AN ATTORNEY IN NEW ORLEANS. SHE VISITED NEW ORLEANS THE FIRST TIME ON A MAQUOKETA BAND TRIP. FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY THEN AND HAS LIVED THERE EVER SINCE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

NICE TODay, BUT SNOW IS COMING TOMORROW AND

COLD, COLD WEATHER IS COMING THIS WEEKEND.

LIKE 10 BELOW SATURDAY NIGHT.

AND SO MUCH FOR THE WEATHER.



LAST NIGHT, THE DEWITT BOYS DEFEATED MAQUOKETA,

54 TO 45, AT DEWITT.

HERE IN MAQUOKETA, THE DEWITT GIRLS DEFEATED

MAQUOKETA, 53 TO 29.



DORIS SHIMANEK HAS BEQUEATHED $130,165.46 TO THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE DORIS SHIMANEK SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

DORIS WAS BORN IN MINNEAPOLIS ON EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1928 AND DELIVERED BY HER FATHER BECAUSE THE DOCTOR COULD NOT MAKE IT IN TIME DUE TO A SNOWSTORM.

SHE GOT HER RN DEGREE IN 1940. SHE MARRIED WILLIAM SHIMANEK ON JULY 4, 1959 AND THEY RESIDED IN OXFORD JUNCTION WHERE HE WAS AN INSURANCE AGENT AND SHE WORKED AT THE MAQUOKETA HOSPITAL IN THE 60'S AS A

REGISTERED NURSE. HE DIED IN 1981 AND SHE RETIRED

IN 1985. IN 2000 SHE SOLD THEIR HOME IN OJ AND MOVED TO OAKNOLL IN IOWA CITY IN 2000. SHE DIED LAST APRIL AFTER A BATTLE WITH COLON CANCER. OVER A YEAR AGO, SHE STOPPED IN TO TALK TO SUPT. KIM HUCKSTADT AND EXPRESSED INTEREST IN LEAVING SOME MONEY TO THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL DISTRICT. HE EXPLAINED WHAT SHE COULD DO. KIM NEVER HEARD FROM HEAR AGAIN. SHE ALSO GAVE TO CORNELL COLLEGE, THE OJ SENIOR CENTER, THE OJ FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND TO FOUR OAKS IN CEDAR RAPIDS. THIS IS THE LARGEST BEQUEATH THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EVER RECEIVED. FOUR OR FIVE STUDENTS A YEAR WILL RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP, USING JUST THE INTEREST OF HER GIFT.

Monday, January 14, 2008

COLD DAY...AND COLDER WEATHER COMING.
MOSTLY SUNNY TOMORROW. LOOKING AHEAD..
WEEKEND MAY BE QUITE COLD.

HAD DINNER LAST NIGHT AT "POOPIES" IN SAVANNA....(TO USE A CHRISTMAS GIFT CARD) ...THE TOWN'S MOST POPULAR EATERY.
THE MENU EXPLAINS HOW AND WHY IT WAS GIVEN ITS NAME. MORE OR LESS A SPORTS BAR IN BUILDING (NEW) AT EDGE OF CITY, WITH EMPHASIS ON BIKES.....HARLEY MECHANIC ON DUTY...AND THREE TATOO ARTISTS. FOOD WAS GOOD. THEY PACK-UM-IN ON WEEKENDS AND DURING SUMMER BIKING SEASON. FOR LEFTOVERS, NO DOGGIE BAG....INSTEAD, YOU ARE GIVEN A WHITE BAG, AND PRINTED ON IT...."A BAG OF S--- FROM POOPIES". THIS... IN A TOWN THAT FOR YEARS HAS BEEN KNOWN AS THE BEST PIZZA TOWN ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

FRIDAY NIGHT, THE MAQUOKETA BOYS WON THEIR 2ND STRAIGHT GAME, DEFEATING BENTON COMMUNITY, THERE, 66 TO 60. THEY ARE NOW 3 AND 6 OVERALL AND 3 AND 4 IN THE WAMAC. AND AT THE MAQUOKETA GYM, THE CARDINAL GIRLS LOST TO BENTON, 61 TO 50. THE GIRLS DROPPED TO 4 AND 9 OVERALL AND 3 AND 5 IN THE LEAGUE. BOTH THE BOYS AND GIRLS TAKE ON CENTRAL OF DEWITT TOMORROW NIGHT. WE WILL BROADCAST THE GIRL'S GAME FROM THE MCHS GYM.

MAQUOKETA SATURDAY HOSTED THEIR OWN DUAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT. MT. VERNON WON IT. SAUK PRAIRIE, WISCONSIN TOOK SECOND. MAQUOKETA WAS THIRD AND LONE TREE FOURTH. THE CARDINAL GRAPPLERS WILL HOST DYERSVILLE BECKMAN IN A WAMAC DUAL THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

A RURAL MAQUOKETA HOME WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE LAST NIGHT. FIREMEN WERE CALLED TO THE LOREN FELDERMAN HOME JUST EAST OF MAQUOKETA AT 5:30 P.M. FELDERMAN
SAID HE NOTICED SMOKE IN THE BASEMENT AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. EVERYONE GOT OUT OF THE HOME SAFELY. FIREMEN COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOME WHEN THEY ARRIVED. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE BASEMENT AND NORTH WALL OF THE HOME IN THE KITCHEN. IT APPARENTLY STARTED FROM AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. TWENTY FIREMEN WERE AT THE SCENE FOR ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 HOURS.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD WILL MEET AT 5 THIS AFTERNOON TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SITE. SEE PHOTOS I TOOK OF SITE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, BELOW THIS REPORT. CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM. AFTER THE TOUR TONIGHT, THE REGULAR MEETING WILL BE HELD. THE BOARD WILL HEAR ABOUT
A GIFT OF OVER $140,000 THE DISTRIC HAS RECEIVED
FROM THE DORIS SHIMENEK ESTATE, TO BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIIPS. SHE LIVED IN OXFORD JUNCTION.

RADIO BINGO ON KMAQ STARTED THIS AFTERNOON. THE FREE BINGO SHOW IS AGAIN ON AT 3:30 DAILY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE SUN IS SHINING AS I END THIS REPORT...BUT IT IS COLD.
NANCY AND I WILL BE GOING TO THE BOY SCOUT CHILI SUPPER TONIGHT.

PAUL HAYES IS CELEBRATING HIS 84TH BIRTHDAY TODAY. BORN AND RAISED IN MAQUOKETA. LONGTIME KMAQ LISTENER. HE AND GERI STOPPED IN FOR A SHORT VISIT THIS MORNING.
ALSO IN THIS MORNING TO BE A GUEST ON "JUST TALK"...
LORAS HERRIG OF BELLEVUE....CITY ADMINISTRATOR THERE.
YEARS AGO HE WAS A BANKER HERE IN TOWN. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK IN BELLEVUE LORAS.

HAVE A GOOD MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY.

DENNIS VOY
THE NEW MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL GYM. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE READY TO USE FOR THE 2008 GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN EARLY JUNE. A REMINDER THAT WHEN YOU CLICK-ON THE PHOTO, IT WILL BE ENLARGED.
DENNIS VOY
THE NEW MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE WITH NEW SIGN LETTERS. STILL A WAYS TO GO, BUT LOOKING GOOD.
DENNIS VOY

Friday, January 11, 2008

1/3 INCH OF SNOW LATE YESTERDAY.....THAT'S ALL. WE LUCKED OUT. CLOUDY AND COOL TODAY.

WRESTLING AT DEWITT LAST NIGHT: DEWITT 34, MAQUOKETA 28. WINS FOR MAQUOKETA BY: MARCUS BREEDEN...TIM O'CONNELL...MacCAULLEY BREEDEN...JOSH HOLTZ...RYAN FLAGEL...JOSH BREEDEN...TOM MAYBERRY...LARRY EGGERS.

AT LAST NIGHT'S ANNUAL MEETING, MAQUOKETA FIRE CHIEF
MARK BECK WAS RE-ELECTED CHEIF. HE HAS BEEN CHIEF
THE PAST 11 YEARS.

STACY AND DAVID VAN ZUMMEREN OF MAQUOKETA ARE PARENTS OF A BOY BORN TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. GRANDPARENTS ARE LARRY AND KAREN SPECHT OF MAQUOKETA.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, January 10, 2008

LIGHT SNOW FALLING NOW, AT 5 PM, BUT ONLY AN INCH OR SO EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

THE NEW MAQUOKETA Y IS CONSIDERING OPENING THE OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL AGAIN THIS SUMMER, BUT
IT MAY NOT BE OPEN AS MANY HOURS EACH WEEK AS IN THE PAST. AND THEY HOPE TO CUT THE DEFICIT FROM THIS
YEAR'S $41,000 TO $25,000.

LAST FALL, DIRT (TONS AND TONS) WAS AGAIN TAKEN FROM THE OLD HIGHWAY 61 BYPASS TRUCK STOP TO BE SPREAD OUT ON FARM FIELDS TO AIR OUT. THAT PROCEDURE HAD BEEN DONE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THE CLEAN-UP WORK DONE LAST FALL WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE LAST. NOT SO! NOW THE SUPERVISORS HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE STILL SOME AREAS OF CONCERN AT THE SITE. UNBELIEVEABLE! THE SUPERVIORS GOT THE LAND AND BUILDING BACK IN 1990 AFTER A TAX SALE.....17 YEARS AGO. ONCE THEY GET A FINAL , CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM THE DNR, THEY PLAN TO SELL THE PROPERTY AND GET IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS.
THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY! NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY! MIGHT BE 2010? AND ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY THAT I ATTENDED MEETINGS OUT IN THE RESTAURANT PART OF THAT TRUCK STOP, RUN BY THE MICHEL'S. I RECALL SOME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IN IT MADE A LOT OF NOISE. NOT SURE WHAT. IT WAS A POPULAR CAFE AND MEETING PLACE.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE MEMORIES TO SHARE ABOUT THE PLACE? AND BE HONEST! IF YOU BOUGHT GASOLENE FOR YOUR CAR OR TRUCK OUT THERE....DID YOU SPILL SOME?

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES GO ON SALE IN MAQUOKETA TOMORROW.

STILL SNOWING....BUILDING UP ON THE SIDEWALK.
SO BE IT! TOO EARLY TO THINK SPRING!

TAKE CARE.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Announcement: Our Email server was kerplunk, Wednesday Jan 9th from 10:15 am till about 6:10 pm. Any emails sent to any KMAQ email address may have not delivered. Anyone who knows they tried sending email Wed, please resend to make sure it got through.

Thank You,
David Voy
KMAQ - IT Administrator
4/10THS OF AN INCH OF RAIN YESTERDAY. SUNSHINE THIS MORNING AND CLOUDY AND COLD THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW IN FORECAST TOMORROW AND TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH 2 TO 4 INCHES OF NEW SNOW POSSIBLE BY FRIDAY MORNING.
THE WEEKEND SHOULD BE PRETTY DESCENT WITH NO PRECIPITATION.

THE MAQUOKETA BOYS BEAT WESTERN DUBUQUE BY 2 POINTS LAST NIGHT, HERE IN TOWN. THE GIRLS LOST TO WESTERN DUBUQUE AT THEIR GYM.

THE PARKING LOT AT THE JACKSON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER ON EAST QUARRY STREET IN MAQUOKETA WILL BE PAVED THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN GRAVEL ALL THESE YEARS. FUNDING IS NEARLY SET AND THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS TODAY ASKED THAT THE PROJECT BE PUT OUT FOR BIDS.

THE DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE ANNUAL "MEN WHO COOK" EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA. IT WILL BE ON SUNDAY, FEB 17TH AND SPONSORED AGAIN BY THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB, THE MAQUOKETA OPTIMIST CLUB, THE DELMAR LIONS CLUB AND JOINING IN AS A SPONSOR THISYEAR, THE MAQUOKETA KIWANIS CLUB. THE FOOD WILL BE SERVED FROM 5 U NTIL 7 P.M. TICKETS ARE $12 FOR THE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT EVENT AND ARE ON SALE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE FOUR CLUBS. MAQUOKETA ROTARIAN NANCY MOORE IS AGAIN
SERVING AS GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF THE 3RD ANNUAL EVENT.
MARK THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR.

SLOW NEWS WEEK....
OH .. GOOD NEWS FOR ME .. GOT THE CALL TODAY THAT MY MONDAY M.R.I. TEST WAS "NORMAL".

TAKE IT EASY.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

IT HAS BEEN RAINING MOST OF TODAY. HIGH ONLY IN THE MID 30'S. SUNNY AND WARMER TOMORROW.

THE MAQUOKETA WRESTLERS TAKE ON DEWITT THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE SABER'S GYM. DR. PAUL KOOB AND LEIGHTON HEPKER WILL BROADCAST THE MATCHES ON KMAQ-FM.

THE MAQUOKETA MEN'S BOWLING ASSOCIATION AND TIMBER LANES ARE SPONSORING A "BOWLING FOR JUSTIN" BENEFIT ON SUNDAY, JULY 20TH FROM 11 A.M. UNTIL 5 P.M. JUSTIN MOHR, A COLLEGE STUDENT FROM MAQUOKETA, WAS INJURED IN A
GUN INCIDENT LATE LAST YEAR AND IS PARALIZED FROM WAIST DOWN. THE BENEIFIT BOWLING EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL AGES. BOWL 3 GAMES FOR $10 DONATION. THERE WILL ALSO BE 50-50 CASH DRAWINGS THROUGHTOUT THE DAY AND DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO JUSTIN. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE CASH, MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO JUSTIN MOHR BENEFIT, AND SEND IT TO ME, AT KMAQ, BOX 940, MAQUOKETA, IA. 52060 AND I WILL TAKE IT OVER TO
LISA CLARK AT MAQUOKETA STATE BANK , WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE BENEFIT.

MADONNA H. VASQUEZ, 84, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED LAST NIGHT AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. SERVICES PENDING AT LAHEY FUNERAL HOME HERE IN TOWN.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, January 07, 2008

LOTS OF SNOW MELTED OVER THE WEEKEND. BOTH YESTERDAY AND TODAY, EVERYONE ENJOYED THE JANUARY THAW. TODAY'S HIGH WAS 50, ONE UNDER THE RECORD FOR THIS DAY. TOMORROW IN 40'S WITH FOG AGAIN AND WEDNESDAY, BACK DOWN TO THE 30'S.

THE MAQUOEKETA GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS BOTH LOST TO WATERLOO COLUMBUS FRIDAY NIGHT. THE GIRL'S GAME WENT INTO OVERTIME. BOTH TEAMS PLAY WESTERN DUBUQUE TOMORROW NIGHT.

SHORT CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

RICH TAYLOR DOWN IN FLORIDA EMAILED ME TO SAY THAT HIS SISTER, KIM TAYLOR LESTER DIED DEC. 20TH IN FLORIDA, AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH MS. SHE ATTENDED MAQUOKETA SCHOOLS UNTIL MOVING WITH HER PARENTS TO FLORIDA DURING HER SOPHOMORE YEAR. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER PARENTS, FLOYD AND MAXINE TAYLOR, FORMERLY OF MAQUOEKTA AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. ALSO SURVIVED BY ONE DAUGHTER, COURTNEY, AGE 18, WHO IS ATTENDING COVENANT COLLEGE IN GEORGIA.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, January 04, 2008

SOME SUNSHINE TODAY....A LITTLE THAWING. WARMER
TOMORROW AND SUNDAY. WE GOT OVER 21 INCHES OF SNOW IN DECEMBER.... AND THAT PUTS THE MONTH IN THE TOP 5 FOR DECEMBER DURING THE 135 YEARS OF RECORDS. LAST JANUARY WE HAD 8 INCHES.

ONE OF MAQUOKETA'S BEST AMBASADORS, RED HENTON, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 40 GREATEST ATHLETES BY THE CEDAR RAPIDS GAZETTE. RED WAS FEATURED, WITH COLOR PHOTO, IN A STORY IN THE DECEMBER 26TH EDITION
OF THE PAPER. HE WAS LISTED AS ATHLETE 23 IN THE LIST OF 40. HE WON 18 STATE HORSESHOE TITLES AND FINISHED SECOND IN THE WORLD IN 1977. RED IS IN THE IOWA AND NATIONAL HORSESHOE PITCHERS HALL OF FAME. HE IS ALSO IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS FOR HIS 1965 PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD TOURNAMENT WHEN HE HIT 175 RINGERS IN 194 ATTEMPTS. RED, AGE 87, STILL LIVES IN MAQUOKETA AND ENJOYS FISHING AND SINGING AND PLAYING MUSIC. IN FACT,HE WILL ENTERTAIN AT THE FEB 7TH AND 8TH KMAQ FARM AND HOME SHOW. WE PAY HIM BIG MONEY FOR THAT.

IN WRESTLING LAST NIGHT, MAQUOKETA DEFEATED VINTON 47 TO 32 AND MIDLAND 72 TO 3.
TONIGHT, THE CARDINAL GIRLS PLAY BASKETBALL AT WATERLOO COLUMBUS AND THE BOYS HOST COLUMBUS.

RECORD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE IOWA CAUCUSES LAST NIGHT. IN MAQUOKETA, THERE WERE 300 CROWDED INTO THE MAQUOKETA MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE REPUBLICANS AND AT THE COURTHOUSE, PEOPLE WERE STANDING OU IN THE HALLS TRYING TO HEAR WHAT WAS BEING SAID. STATEWIDE, SENATOR OBAMA WAS THE WINNER AND IN JACKSON COUNTY HE WAS A BIG WINNER TOO WITH 44%.
EDWARDS FINISHED SECOND. FOR THE REPUBLICANS, HUCKABEE WAS THE WINNER STATEWIDE BUT IN JACKSON COUNTY, THE WINNER WAS ROMNEY.

RETTA SPEERS, AGE 35 OF MAQUOKETA DIED SUDDENLY MONDAY AND HER COMPLETE OBITUARY IS AT
www.carsonandson.com SHE IS SURVIVED BY 6 CHILDREN, ALL AT HOME.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, January 03, 2008

COLD....COLD....AND MORE COLD WEATHER.
SUNSHINE THOUGH TODAY. AND WARM WEATHER COMING THIS WEEKEND...LIKE AROUND 40 OR ABOVE.

THIS IS CAUCUS DAY TODAY IN IOWA. IOWA WILL BE QUIET AND PEACEFUL STARTING TOMORROW.
I'LL HAVE THE MAQUOKETA AND JACKSON COUNTY RESULTS TOMORROW. CLOSE RACES SHOULD MAKE IT AN INTERESTING NIGHT.

A FIRST FOR KMAQ TODAY. WE GOT WORD THIS MORNING THAT FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WOULD CALL KMAQ THIS AFTERNOON IF WE WANTED HIM TO. TO TALK ABOUT CAUCUS NIGHT OF COURSE AND HIS WIFE, SENATOR HILIARY.
WE SAID YES. SHERI MELVOLD, KMAQ NEWS DIRECTOR GOT THE CALL AND SO SHE ... HOST OF KMAQ'S JUST TALK INTERVIEW SHOW ...MADE PLANS FOR THE INTERVIEW. IT WENT ON THE AIR "LIVE" JUST BEFORE 4 THIS AFTERNOON
AND THE INTERVIEW WENT WELL, AND LASTED UNTIL ABOUT FIVE AFTER 4. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AROUND 5 MINUTES, BUT HE WAS ON KMAQ A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT. SHERI DID A GOOD JOB AND SO DID THE PRESIDENT. NEAR THE CLOSE, SHERI ASKED IF HE HAS SEEN HIS WIFE LATELY. THEY HAVE GONE SEPARATE WAYS WHENEVER HE HELPED WITH HER CAMPAIGN IN IOWA. ANYWAY, HE SAID HE HAD LUNCH WITH HER TODAY. HE SAID HE ENJOYED VISITING THE MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES IN IOWA. KMAQ WILL HAVE COVERAGE ON THE EVENT TONIGHT WITH RADIO IOWA REPORTS EVERY HALF HOUR AND OF COURSE, TV COVERAGE WILL BE EXTENSIVE.
BIG DAY TODAY FOR THE HAWKEYE STATE.
NOW..I HAVE ONE MORE TAPE CASSETTE TO PUT INTO MY LIBRARY OF TAPED INTERVIEWS MADE OVER THE YEARS HERE
AT THE STATION.

LOTS OF ACCIDENTS, NONE REAL SERIOUS, OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE OF THE ROADS.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AT DAVENPORT LATE NEW YEAR'S EVE
AND NEW YEAR'S DAY AND CAME HOME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. "TRANSIENT GLOBAL AMNESIA" WAS MY PROBLEM. YOU CAN "GOOGLE IT" AND READ MUCH ABOUT IT. IN SHORT....I HAD AMNESIA FOR OVER 6 HOURS. SCARY. NOT REAL COMMON. BACK AT WORK TODAY AND FEELING PRETTY GOOD. AN M-R-I TEST STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE, MONDAY.
WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT COMES OUT. ANYONE ELSE
HAD THIS HAPPEN?

GOTTA GO..THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY